A Drive Into the Country
"Ottawa Weekly Republican," August 10, 1882, Page 4, column 4.
One of the genuine pleasures offered to any who will take the time and trouble is a drive into the country, in almost any direction from Ottawa, but particularly out into the fertile farms of Harrison township. Last evening we had the pleasure of gazing on the wonderful crops, the growing young orchards, the trim fences, and commodious houses and farms in this specially favored locality. The lane, running north and south past Mr. C. B. Jones' and Mr. Sam'l Howe's is the most like an old eastern lane of any we know of in the county. All along, the hedges are high and full grown, the shade, ornamental and orchard trees appear in profusion and the large barns and substantial improvements on all the farms touching this road have the same appearance of thrift and proper management seen in the best farmed portions of Ohio and Illinois. Here can be seen the intelligent work of such successful farmers as T. J. Bodley, C. B. Jones, Mr. Coletrap, Stewart, the Howes, Madaris and a dozen others, all of whom exhibit a commendable desire to excel in the honorable calling of the agriculturalist. About a half mile east of Mr. Howes, we come to the fine farm of Mr. Ricker, one of the energetic farmers and stock raisers of the county. this large farm including a full half section of 320 acres of the most fertile soil in this locailty, lies on a lane running east and west, and it is cut in twain by this lane. One quarter section devoted entirely to past and horse training ground lies on the south and the other, a beautiful quarter with an east and so slope, lies on the north. This quarter is under cultivation and Mr. Ricker has just marketed a fine crop of wheat grown here this season. The balance of this farming land is in corn, potatoes and smaller productions, while a beautiful and large young orchard attracts the attention on the south front, where Mr. Ricker proposes to erect his residence in the near future. Opposite this orchard and on the north edge of hte pasture quarter, stands the present temporary residence and the large and splendid stone barn, 40 by 60 feet. This elegant grain store house and horse stable is fitted with all the conveniences imaginable. The loft floor is laid tight of matched flooring with a view to storing grain when the bins below are full, a moveable stairway leads from the lower part and the whole is well ventilated, lighted and kept as neat as a pin. In the rear of the barn are the stock sheds on three sides of a large square, and in which is the water supply in never failing quantities. Stock water also abounds in the open pasture easily accessible to the cattle and horses. West of the stable is Mr. Ricker's race or training track on a piece of ground as level as a barn floor, and it is said to be as fine a half mile track as there is any where. This track is of course to be taken as an evidence that the proprietor loves good horses, and he has about twenty, among which some of the best blood in the county. They are colts, prime brood mares and working animals. At the head of this drove is a fine blooded, heavy limbed draft stallion, which animal boasts of a pedigree equal to any horse in this county. In his herd Mr. Ricker runs to Jerseys for his fine strain, and he is on the road to an extensive breeding of this excellent domestic, milking and butter-making breed. Mr. Ricker's Jersey cows are splendid animals, and the young claves attest their royal descent. A splendid young Jersey bull also attracted our attention. This farm with its compact buildings, its substantial fences and the amount of land in cultivation, with the general improvements, the hogs, horses and cattle may be taken as an example of what can be done on Kansas prairie, by any active, intelligent man. Mr. and Mrs. Ricker only took possession two years ago, and the whole half section was then a howling wilderness. Under careful and persistent work it is today a model farm only lacking the farm residence, which the owner contemplates at an early date. From the refined circles of Boston to the bleak plants of Kansas was quite a transition, and yet this was the change wrought in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. R., and the work now to be seen shows that they appreciated their western mission and took hold of it in earnest. They have the foundation of a splendid home, and their ideal of hte comforts and independence of a farmer's life will be realized at no distant day. We have singled out this farm for mention, on account of the amount of work accomplished on it in so short a time.
This page created by design by ArtWorks on 02 Dec 96, last updated 02 Dec 96
This page created by design by ArtWorks on 02 Dec 96, last updated 02 Dec 96